God sees the skeletons in the darkest closets. He wants to put some flesh on the bones you've been hiding. God saw your last drink, He saw your last gambling trip to the casino. He saw the needle in your arms. He saw the last thing you stole from your neighbor. He saw the last pill you swallowed. He saw between the sheets when it wasn't who you're married to that you slept with. Just when you think nobody's looking, the unseen becomes visible to an invisible God.
          He's not a voyeur, but He is a God of holiness and purity who wants the best for you. You feel the conviction in your gut and you know what's wrong. Forgiveness, grace and mercy are waiting for you if you'll only ask. He knows your struggles and challenges. He knows the trouble you have staying on the right path. His Bible is full of stories written about the lives of people who made many mistakes. Some left their struggles and went after the promises of God.
          This is your day. In this moment now, ask God to help you go one minute without doing anything that's destructive to you or anybody else. Just one minute and then do another until you've done an hour. Pick up a Bible and read about what Jesus did when he struggled the night before he died. He asked God to take his suffering away, but he added that he would do what his Father wanted him to do. You've suffered some, but if you continue on a destructive path, your suffering will grow into a mountain of pain and disgrace.
          Let this be the moment now that you turn the corner. Make a promise to God and write it down. Call somebody and tell them about your commitment. It may be hard to find somebody who believes in you because you've tried before and failed. God will not leave you alone if you trust Him. Take one step and then take another. Fill your first day with something positive. God believes in you. I believe in you. You are an overcomer who embraces challenges. Before long you will teach other people how you trusted God and became victorious over your struggles.

DAY TWENTY-ONE WORD

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ICB)
“The only temptations that you have are the temptations that all people have.
But you can trust God.
He will not let you be tempted more than you can stand.
But when you are tempted,
God will also give you a way to escape that temptation.
Then you will be able to stand it.”
 
1 Corinthians 15:33 (ICB)
“Do not be fooled:
“Bad friends will ruin good habits.”
 
James 4:7 (ICB)
“So give yourselves to God.
Stand against the devil, and the devil will run away from you.
 
1 Peter 5:10 (ICB)
“Yes, you will suffer for a short time.
But after that, God will make everything right.
He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling.
He is the God who gives all grace.
He called you to share in his glory in Christ.
That glory will continue forever.”

DAY TWENTY-ONE PRAYER

          Thank you God for giving us courage. You made us brave to be able to withstand the temptations of this world. You've given us the spirit of perseverance. Even when we've fallen backward, you've picked us up and set us on solid ground to launch a new beginning. Thank you for our grace. Thank you for giving us so many chances. Help someone tonight take a step out of a bad situation. In Jesus name. Amen.

DAY TWENTY-ONE DEEP THOUGHTS

The first thing that comes to my mind in helping someone overcome addiction or bad habits is the Word of God.
God has a purpose for your heart. He wants to receive praise through you. All you have to do is try, and your Father in heaven will be proud of you.
1 Corinthians 4:5  (ICB)
“So do not judge before the right time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light things that are now hidden in darkness. He will make known the secret purposes of people’s hearts. Then God will give everyone the praise he should get.”
 
You do have to seek God, but He’s easily found. In your day of trouble, hide yourself in Him – that’s a truly secret place of peace.
Psalm 27:4-6  (AMP)
“One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,
To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.

For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
 
And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.”
​

          Political discussions are banned in many families and organizations. They tend to bring out the worst in us. Everyone has an opinion and many folks are eager to "share" their opinion. Although "share" is a kind and gentle word whereas the strongly opinionated folks bulldoze their opinions into any available ears. The Pledge of Allegiance for the United States of America contain the words, "one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all." If we're so indivisible, why are divided? Can we at least agree to fast and pray for our President?
          The Bible is pretty clear on how we're supposed to pray for our leaders. It also gives a pretty good indication that leaders are only there with God's permission. While it's true that people vote and elect the leader of their choice, the election results reflect the moral character and beliefs of the people. There has never been an elected official that hasn't had a target on his or her back. That's unfortunate and sad that we can't respect people. 
          Years ago I learned about a word called "promulgate" which means to make an idea known to many people by declaring it. I had questioned a decision in a court of law and I was told "Those who promulgate the law interpret the law." They went on to explain that those folks who make up the law have the ability to decide what it means when they want to use it. This doesn't work in favor of common people. What does this have to do with fasting and praying? Folks are now applying the same flawed wisdom to politics. They decide who to pray for based on their changing opinions of the person's character. 
          Every leader in politics deserves to be prayed for, regardless of whether they're your favorite person or not. Our current President may not be squeaky clean, but neither am I and neither are you. My character is not what it used to be thanks to my life given over to Jesus Christ and His more excellent way of life. There are some really good things happening in our country right now. It's time to kick up the effort to fast and pray with more urgency. 
          When leaders of a country show support for the most innocent and vulnerable lives of unborn children, that's the ultimate respect for life. There is no other issue as important as human life. If we get that right, God will lead us to greater acts of love for our neighbors. Maybe some day indivisible will be a word on earth as it is in heaven.

DAY TWENTY WORD 

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (TPT)
Instruction on Prayer
“Most of all, I’m writing to encourage you to pray with gratitude to God.
Pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests
as you intercede with intense passion. 
And pray for every political leader and representative, 
so that we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives,
as we worship the awe-inspiring God with pure hearts.”
 
1 Peter 2:17  (TPT)
“Recognize the value of every person
and continually show love to every believer.
Live your lives with great reverence and in holy awe of God.
Honor your rulers.”
 
Romans 13:1 (AMP)
Be Subject to Government
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
 For there is no authority except from God
 [granted by His permission and sanction],
and those which exist have been put in place by God.”
 
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
“ if My people who are called by My name
will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face,
and turn from their wicked ways, 
then I will hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
 
DAY TWENTY PRAYER 

Thank you God for the unity of your Word. You teach us about agreeing with each other in respect. There should be no division over the life of unborn children. You told us to put on love which will bind us together in perfect unity. You love children and you want us to love them on earth as in heaven. Forgive us as a nation. Lead us with leaders who will follow your ways of protecting the innocent and the most vulnerable. Amen.

DAY TWENTY DEEP THOUGHTS

• How do you advocate for the unborn?
• Have you given much thought to Preventable Death?
• Who do you speak up for that can't speak up for themselves?
• If you withhold your power to speak up for the voiceless, there may come a day when you are voiceless.

          My wife and I were out walking today and as usual had an interesting conversation. That's one of the things I love about my wife, she's interesting and intelligent. Today we were talking about being offended. No, neither one of us had offended the other, but we were talking about how the Bible says to not take offense.“A wise person is patient. He will be honored if he ignores a wrong done against him.” Proverbs 19:11 (ICB) I told my wife that I fight hard against being offended, but some things hit my hot button. One of them is when folks refuse to help all children find their God-given purpose in life.
          God knew all of us before we were formed in the womb. (Jeremiah 1:5) It only stands to reason, that if God knew us, He had a plan for us after we exited our mother's womb.Your purpose in life is to find the missions that God has already preplanned for your life journey. All throughout the history of mankind, there's been a battle against children on both sides of the womb. People think abortion is okay because somehow they believe that a pregnant woman isn't carrying a baby. They give the baby all kinds of names, but deny its humanity. The flesh of a human is the flesh of a human at any stage of life.
​          Youth With A Purpose was named after our belief that all children are gifted with purpose on both sides of the womb. One of our primary responsibilities is helping youth use their gifts to become the world changers that God meant them to be. Back in the days when Moses was born, they would throw baby boys into the Nile River as a means of slowing the population growth. Today abortion seems to have slowed down and that's a good thing, but there still are too many children dying. 
          There's a purpose to your life designed by God. If you have a purpose then so does every child in the womb and they deserve a chance to follow their life mission. I believe with all of my heart that one of my missions from God is to be a voice for the unborn. They're innocent, defenseless and voiceless.  We are all called to love God with our whole heart, mind and strength. We're also called to love our neighbor as ourselves. When Jesus taught us to pray, he included the words, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Jesus also said, "Let the little children come to me." Can you imagine God allowing abortion in heaven? If it wouldn't be in God's will to let it happen in heaven, it wouldn't be in his will to let it happen on earth.
          What is your mission from God? At the very least, we're all called to show compassion to those in need; widows, orphans, the fatherless, the sick and dying, those in prison and those who can't speak up for themselves. Children on both sides of the womb are targets of the devil. It's time for a greater awakening of love for children. They are 100& of the future. Help them go on a mission from God.

DAY NINETEEN WORD   

  Psalm 139:13-16 (ICB)
“You made my whole being.
    You formed me in my mother’s body.
I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.
    What you have done is wonderful.
    I know this very well.
You saw my bones being formed
    as I took shape in my mother’s body.
When I was put together there,
you saw my body as it was formed.
All the days planned for me
    were written in your book
    before I was one day old.”
 
Isaiah 49:1 (ICB)
“All of you people in faraway places, listen to me.
    Listen, all you nations far away.
Before I was born, the Lord called me to serve him.
    The Lord named me while I was still in my mother’s body.”

DAY NINETEEN PRAYER
     
Thank you God. I praise you for the day my mother gave birth to me. I praise you for writing my name in your planning book. You've made all of us with enormous potential. God you know I have a heart for unborn children, show me how to do more for them.Amen.

​DAY NINETEEN DEEP THOUGHTS

          We have to be willing to take a stand for what we believe in and what God believes in. He hates the hands that shed innocent blood. We will be attacked, but it's worth it to lay our lives down on behalf of children who've been planned by God. I take offense at folks who staunchly support abortion, but I must say what Jesus said on the cross, "Father forgive them, they don't know what they're doing."

          The heaviness begins slowly as a sick feeling in your gut. The guilt moves up your chest until it saddles itself on your shoulders as a heavy weight. It happens to everyone and it even happens to the folks who are "holier-than-thou." On second thought maybe not those folks. If your conscience has been flattened by hubris (pride,) guilt may be something you're no longer familiar with. How does guilt get in our guts?
          It usually waits until after we've done or said something out of character that's not in line with God's character. Then the conviction of the Holy Spirit plants some nauseousness in our guts to make us queasy and uncomfortable. Why does God wait until after we're done to let us know about our errant ways? He sees what we do, why doesn't He stop us? Simple answer - He din't make us as puppets and He gave us a free will to do as we please.
          Repentance is a process that includes admitting what we did, showing remorse and changing our habits so our character doesn't fall the same way again. We may also have to apologize or make restitution if our mistake was costly. There's a cost to bad character to ourselves and those who watch us. They may do as we do.
          We often pray for God to be out front and lead us. We pray for Him to watch our backs and protect us. Is it possible that we fall into a bad habit of wanting God in front of us and behind us, but not looking over our shoulders Maybe we'd prefer He stays out of our everyday personal business? It's a foolish question for most folks to ask, Does God Look Over Your Shoulder?" He sees everything we do and He knows everything we think. Hebrews 4:13 (AMP) “And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.”
          I was studying the Greek word for hypocrite this morning. "Hypokritēs is pronounced, hü-po-krē-tā's and the meaning given in the Blue Letter Bible's Outline of Biblical Usage is,  "one who answers, an interpreter, an actor, stage player, a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite. I can follow most of that, but I have to confess i didn't know what a "dissembler" was. Here's the meaning from The Free Dictionary, "dissemble - To disguise or conceal one's real nature, motives, or feelings behind a false appearance." Young people especially, are very good at spotting dissemblers!
          So it's easy to know that God is watching us, but did you ever stop to wonder whose eyes He's using to look over our shoulders? My Christian faith tells me to look for Jesus in the eyes of everyone I meet. It only stands to reason that I should expect those eyes to be looking over my shoulders at everything I do. Sometimes doing the right thing is like shoveling snow. It's hard work moving heavy snow while keeping a proper posture without hurting your back. After awhile, you're in a hurry to get done and your thoughts are no longer on proper posture. Soon your back starts to ache. Life gets busy and when we're in a hurry or very tired, we don't always make the right decisions. When we're wrong, the best thing we can do is admit it immediately. Any wavering on our parts can make a young person use our mistakes as permission to make their own. The eyes of God and the eyes of young people are always upon us.

DAY EIGHTEEN WORD

Proverbs 5:21-23 (AMP)
“For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the Lord,
And He carefully watches all of his paths [all of his comings and goings].
The iniquities done by a wicked man will trap him,
And he will be held with the cords of his sin.
He will die for lack of instruction (discipline),
And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray and be lost.”
 
Romans 8:27 (ICB)
“God can see what is in people’s hearts.
And he knows what is in the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit speaks to God for his people in the way that God wants.”
 
Genesis 28:15 (AMP)
“Behold, I am with you and will keep [careful watch over you and guard]
you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this [promised] land;
for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

DAY EIGHTEEN PRAYER

Thank You God for always watching over us. You don't approve of everything we do but you always accept us back when we admit we blew it. You know it's hard work to be human and another bad action is always just around the corner. Help us to get better at being role models, especially for the kids looking over our shoulders. Amen.

DAY EIGHTEEN DEEP THOUGHTS

• Before we judge anybody as a hypocrite we need to make sure there isn't any skeletons in our own closets.
• Speak your word - Do Your Word.
• All people need accountability partners who will be honest in being faithful to wound a friend when needed. It's better to be a wounded warrior than a hypocrite on the way to hell.

          We've heard stories about an open heaven over Sedona, Arizona. Driving through the middle of town you'll see a large number of psychic shops. Many folks call it the center for new age and a place where you can get positive vibes. My wife and I went there to hike in one of the canyons. We had a great hike and met some interesting people.
          As I was putting on my hiking boots and getting my backpack ready, a nice lady walked up to our car. She asked me if I was one of those smart people who stopped and got water before I came. I kind of smiled because I wasn't sure what to say. Most folks would know enough to bring water on a hike, especially in Arizona. I told her we packed our supplies before we left home. She said it was probably a short hike anyway and walked away. My wife met her as she was coming back from looking at a map. The lady asked her if she knew where the vortex was. Not being much of a vortex lady, my wife just shook her head and said "No."
          After we hit the trail, I was taking pictures while Linda walked on ahead. She was about 100 yards away from me when I heard a man talking to her. By the time I caught up to where they were standing, I could see the man giving Linda a rock. The guy told her that it was a "magic rock." He had three of them in his hand and they were all shaped like hearts. he said they were all magic rocks. As he walked away I told him "Jesus is my Rock. Jesus loves you and so do we!" He hurried away down the trail while yelling something about we all have one love and one creator. He had no desire to talk to us as soon as we mentioned the name Jesus.
          I have to admit that I have a bit of a mischievous streak in me and I like to find humor in almost everything. Linda got rid of the magic rock and we never experienced any vortex vibes. We did see another young girl sitting on a rock holding her necklace up to the trees. As much as I like to see humor in things, this whole episode made me feel sad. Folks are searching for energy and healing in vibes and rocks when God is waiting to give them love.
          Both my wife and I have had a personal relationship with Christ for many years. We've experienced being led by the Holy Spirit and we've been overpowered by the Presence of God. It's easy to see God in His creation and be energized by His awe inspiring handiwork. What we saw in Sedona was a cottage industry of man-made spiritualism. I read that you can even go into a spiritual trinket shop and buy "vortex-in-a-can." 
          I know from reading the Bible that all of us are sinners, meaning that we all make bad moral decisions sometimes. Those bad moral decisions cause us to be separated from God. We make good decisions when we do what Jesus told us to do, “and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’ This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (AMP)
          Positive energy and vortex vibes won't remove selfishness or sin. New Age folks can be very nice people, and we will love them in a Christ-like way, but we can't give them "sin-remover-in-a-can." The Bible has been proven to be true in many ways over and over again. Folks searching for energy will eventually get burned out. Folks searching for Jesus will find the Truth. If you seek Him, you will find Him.

DAY SEVENTEEN WORD  

Proverbs 14:12 (AMP)
“There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him,
But its end is the way of death.”

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (AMP)
Spiritism Forbidden
“When you enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable (repulsive) practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire [as a sacrifice], one who uses divination and fortune-telling, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a charm or spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or a necromancer [who seeks the dead]. For everyone who does these things is utterly repulsive to the Lord; and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless (complete, perfect) before the Lord your God. For these nations which you shall dispossess listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners and fortune-tellers, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so."

DAY SEVENTEEN PRAYER

          Thank you God for creating us to be in a relationship with you. You've made a wonderful world for us to enjoy. All of creation testifies about your personal relationship with mankind. You didn't make us to worship the energy of your creation. you made us to be in communion with you. Help us to stand strong against demonic powers that would pervert your message of perfect love. Amen.

DAY SEVENTEEN DEEP THOUGHTS 

• New Age began in the garden of Eden. The devil does his best (worst) to distract, distort, deceive and destroy our efforts to follow God.
• Be patient, be consistent and be loving with all people. Do your best to not take offense if they mock you.
• It always hurts when someone rejects the love that you hold so dearly, but do your best to share the love within you and leave the rest to God. 

          A few years ago, there was a ministry called Saving Wild Horses. Based in Western New York outside of Buffalo, they would rescue wild mustangs from out west that faced an uncertain future. The ministry was run by folks who themselves once faced an uncertain future. The Directors of Youth With A Purpose were invited to bring their young people out to the country from the inner city. They enjoyed a campfire, horseback rides, a night in a tent and then attended Cowboy Church on Sunday. Nobody had to compel these kids to come, they were overjoyed to attend.
           On Sunday morning, a groggy bunch of sleepy eyed youngsters climbed out of their sleeping bags. After breakfast they headed for the barn and climbed on top of hay bales to experience Cowboy Church. The Pastor of the day stood inside a fenced ring with a horse trailer. He led a wild mustang into the ring who had never been broken or tamed. The Pastor explained that he would gain the horses's trust and lead him onto a horse trailer for the first time. He could not force or compel the horse to go on to the trailer, he first had to earn his trust.
          It took awhile for him to form a relationship with the horse, but eventually the horse stopped resisting him. The Pastor explained that we are like that with God, we want our own way and we're slow to surrender our wills to Him. Most folks think they're doing okay on their own and don't need any help. It takes us awhile to understand that God's way is the best way to live our lives. God will not force us to follow Him.
          The word "compel" has a few different meanings. It's usually understood as a forceful word as in forcing somebody to do something. There's another way to look at compel. People can be compelled to follow God if they see an enormous blessing by doing so. A horse can be compelled to move by a rope and be steered by a bit in its mouth. A horse can be compelled to stand still and let a child nuzzle its nose. The horse loves to be loved and people love to be loved. 
          People can be compelled to join you by your behavior - good or bad. People can be compelled to join you because the example you set is beneficial for them to follow. I read an article recently about the expanding Christian Church in Iran. Christians face immense persecution there with people being imprisoned for openly practicing their faith. The church has no central leadership and is mostly led by women. They pray and they make disciples. There's no forced conversion or compelling people by force to change their beliefs.  You can't disciple somebody unless you have a relationship with them. They use love to compel people, first to discipleship and then to willingly convert to a more excellent way of living. “So our model inside Iran is that we don’t convert to disciple, we disciple so we can convert.” Fastest Growing Church  Mother Teresa once said, "My job isn't to convert people. My job is to love people, and Love will do the converting." Be compelled by Love. 

DAY SIXTEEN WORD

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 HCSB
“For Christ’s love compels us,
 since we have reached this conclusion:
 If One died for all, then all died. 
And He died for all so that those who live
should no longer live for themselves,
 but for the One who died for them and was raised.”
 
Matthew 5:41 NKJV
“And whoever compels you to go one mile,
go with him two.”
 
Mark 15:21 NKJV
“The King on a Cross
Then they compelled a certain man,
Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus,
 as he was coming out of the country and passing by,
to bear His cross.”
 
Luke 14:23 NKJV
“Then the master said to the servant,
 ‘Go out into the highways and hedges,
and compel them to come in,
that my house may be filled.”

DAY SIXTEEN PRAYER

Thank you God for your compelling Love. You draw me in the way you show Love for me. Like Moses was drawn out of the Nile River, you draw me out of my self and show me a river of the water of Life. You compel me by your extravagant Love. You compel me to compel others by loving them the way you love me. Help me to love them more. Amen.

DAY SIXTEEN DEEP THOUGHTS

• Make grace compelling - Say grace and give grace.
• Write letters about what God has done in your life. Be the tongue of a ready writer. Give a written witness testimony that bears the marks of discipleship. You may not compel folks to sit at your feet and listen to your testimony, but they most likely will open your letter.
• The transformation of your heart compels you to love the way Jesus loves. The renewal of your mind compels you to seek wisdom. The total acceptance of Jesus did on the cross compels you to share the greatest Love that we could ever know. Be compelled by God's Love.

          Being a teacher is one of the most important jobs on the planet. Like it or not, everyone will be a teacher at some point in our lives. Folks learn by watching what we do, what we say and how we react under pressure. Sometimes our mistakes give license to other folks; they use our behavior as an excuse to act the same way. We may never see the results of our bad behavior or our bad attitudes, but they've left an imprint on somebody.
          God has plans for our lives and it's our responsibility to search out and implement those plans. If we fail to do our part in His plan, it's no biggie, He just uses one of the other billions of folks hanging around, but we lose out on being involved in God's already ordained results. Being a teacher in a classroom, a youth leader or a mentor gives us the opportunity to make a positive (or negative) impact on many lives. The impact we make is often unknown. Time passes quickly and with it passes the many young lives under our influence. When forming a relationship with a young person, it's important to be transparent. You cannot be perfect in your behavior as a role model, but you can be real. Being known as someone who admits mistakes is better than being a hypocrite who hides mistakes.
          Standing by street corner memorials where someone died makes one wonder what would've happened if they'd lived. Those are results we'll never know. Unborn children who die through abortion leave a void of unknown results. What impact on the world would they have imprinted if they'd been allowed to live? Marriages are dissolved too quickly for selfish reasons, what would've been the results if a little resiliency had been added to the separation? People and situations are like tides in the ocean - the ebb and flow of opportunities is constant.
          The Bible says "God's Word is a lamp unto our feet" (Psalm 119:105) We can influence the results by taking good care of the people placed in our care, whether it's for a minute, hour or years. Or to say it a little shorter, "Take care of the people at our feet." The Bible speaks of people sitting at the feet of Jesus as He teaches them. There's also a great story about a lady who, at the feet of Jesus, broke open an alabaster box of expensive ointment and poured it on the feet of Jesus. “Then Mary took a pound of fragrant oil—pure and expensive nard—anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. So the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” John 12:3 (HCSB) Imagine each person in front of you as worthy of receiving the same treatment as Mary gave Jesus. Focus on the results of the moment, let God take care of future results.

DAY FIFTEEN WORD

Ephesians 5:8-10 (HCSB)
“For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light--
 for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth--
 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.”
 
John 4:38 (AMP)
“I sent you to reap [a crop] for which you have not worked.
 Others have worked and you have been privileged to reap the results of their work.”
 
Hebrews 13:6-8 (CJB)
“Therefore, we say with confidence,
“Adonai is my helper; I will not be afraid --
what can a human being do to me?”
Remember your leaders,
 those who spoke God’s message to you.
Reflect on the results of their way of life,
 and imitate their trust — 
Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
 
1 Corinthians 12:6 (TPT)
“The same God distributes different kinds of miracles
 that accomplish different results
 through each believer’s gift and ministry
as he energizes and activates them.”

DAY FIFTEEN PRAYER

Thank you God for allowing me to enjoy the results and the fruit that I didn't do anything to deserve. You've allowed me to be blessed by the works of the hands of others. Help me to focus on the results that you want me to take care of right in front of me. May the works of my hands accomplished for your glory be used freely by others long after I'm gone from this world. Amen.

DAY FIFTEEN DEEP THOUGHTS

          Once upon a season, a man planted seeds on a hillside. He planted seeds of fruit and vegetables in one year and they kept growing for many years. The man built a house and raised a family who lived in the house for many years eating from the food that grew on the hillside. The whole family would pitch in by helping remove the weeds and take care of the new young plants that sprouted in place of old and dying plants.
          The house was sold to many different families over the years. One day a little boy asked his Father, "Daddy, who planted the very first vegetables and fruits? The man smiled at his little boy, scooped him up and tossed him high in the air. The boy howled in joy as he landed in his Daddy's arms and nestled into a great big hug. The big man looked into his son's eyes and said, "They called the man who was the first planter, Mr. Freely. He liked to plant beyond what he needed so he could give the abundance to other people. He was a visionary who started planting gardens and made sure he finished the work. The most important thing Mr. Freely did was to make sure that his gardens were fertilized by consistency and continuance so the results would keep repeating themselves." 
     The boy listened very intently to his Dad's explanation. After a few moments of silence he asked his dad another question, "How did he get the name Mr. Freely?"  The Dad smiled again and said, "Nobody really knows for sure how he got that name, but everyone agrees that's what he should be called. The man was always freely giving things to other people. All his gardens were planted with the idea that he would have more than enough for his own family and the rest he could freely give away. Because of what Mr. Freely started, we continue to freely give what we have freely received. That's the results of a life freely lived."

 

          Being on a 21 day fast is both a struggle and a joy. The struggle part is obvious so I don't need to do any moaning and groaning here to tell you why. The joy comes in being hungry for God and being fed by Him. Plain and simple - that's like eating cool beans! There's a peace that transcends all understanding that comes from being in the presence of God. Everyday He gives me something to write about. It's become a habit to wait and write. Sometimes though, I find myself wondering what to write about instead of focusing my wandering thoughts on Him.
          God's Word tells us not to worry. "So I tell you, don’t worry about the food you need to live. And don’t worry about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more important than food. And the body is more important than clothes." Matthew 6:25 ICB. I have to admit that sometimes I'm a bit anxious about knowing what I'm supposed to write about, and being anxious is a form of worrying. It's natural, we all do it, but that doesn't make it right just because everybody's doing it.
          Habits can be good things that improve our lives. Habits that become rituals often lead us away from the reason we formed the habit in the first place. If I form a habit of reading my Bible every morning, that's a good thing if I'm focusing on what God would say to me during my reading. If I speed-read the Word just to finish my daily ritual, well that's not the kind of Bible reading God would want.
          Many religions have rituals. I received my Christian foundation as a child in a Christian denomination that was deeply entrenched in many rituals. That's not a bad thing as it gave me a good start toward building a godly moral character (which is still in progress.) There are some rituals that make me dwell on the mercies of God. When my ritual causes worry about how I'll bring it to completion, I'm focused on myself and not God - that's a mistake.
          After a mistake, it's a good time to regroup, go back to your first Love, apologize, and start over again. It happens folks, wandering minds go off on a worry expedition and get lost in their anxiety. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is a great guide who will leave 99 focused people and bring back one worrier whose gone off on worry way. I made a mistake and I'm grateful God doesn't hold it over my old-head. He welcomes me back into His everlasting arms.

DAY THIRTEEN WORD

Philippians 4:6-7 The Message
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray.
Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
 
1 Peter 5:7-8 Amplified Bible
“casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times.” 
 
Revelation 2:4 Amplified Bible
“But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me].”
 
Acts 3:19 Amplified Bible
“So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased], so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord [restoring you like a cool wind on a hot day];”

DAY THIRTEEN PRAYER

Thank you God for your forgiveness and patience. You have a never give up kind of love for a wandering people and I could be chief among them. My heart might be in the right place but my mind is easily distracted by my self. Help my focus which could be called unbelief. If I had more focus with my faith, I'd stay at home with you 24/7 without wandering. Thanks for being You. Amen.

DAY THIRTEEN DEEP THOUGHTS

• When the seas of anxiety drift toward the pools of worry in your mind, imagine Jesus walking on those waters.
• When a mountain of doubt towers over your peace of mind, picture Jesus on a mountain praying for you.
• When a storm of panic threatens to steal your memories of God's grace, imagine Jesus beckoning you to walk with Him on stormy seas that will soon be calm.
• Ask God for focus. Be careful with rituals. Launch out in to the deep of His Presence. 

          Once upon a season in time, there was a Tall Tree who stood towering over all the other trees in the forest. On the forest floor stood Little Tree who was suffering from lack of sunlight. It's withering leaves were turning brown and it's bark was curling as its life was slowly ebbing away. Little Tree was exhausted from using all its energy to bend toward what little sunlight reached the forest floor. Little Tree didn't complain to anybody. it was too tired to bother. Nobody listened anyway the tree thought sadly. Soon I'll be just another dead tree in the forest. One moment in that season changed the life of the little tree forever.
          Tall Tree looked down from its height that almost reached the heavens and noticed Little Tree struggling. "How can I help you?" Asked Tall Tree. Little Tree was shocked that someone actually offered help. Weakly, Little Tree replied, "I need some sunlight." Tall Tree smiled and said, "I think I can help you with that!" Tall Tree called to the wind and asked if the wind would use all its might to blow the tall trees branches to one side. It worked for a short while as a few rays of the sun reached Little Tree far below. As Tall Tree spent considerable time bending to one side, it caused a crack to open in its trunk.
          In spite of the few rays of light that Little Tree was receiving, it still wasn't enough to bring about the shedding of its sluggish depression and help it to grow. "There must be more I can do," thought Tall Tree. The season's changed and the cold of winter arrived. Tall Tree called to the snow and ice, "Can you load up some of my branches so they break under the weight of the snow? I must prune some of my branches off so more sunlight can reach Little Tree." After a few heavy snowfalls and freezing temperatures, snow and ice piled on top of tall tree. Soon the weight broke many of Tall Tree's limbs and they fell crashing to the forest floor. The second effort of Tall Tree began to make a difference in Little Tree's life. 
          Spring arrived and with it came fresh sunshine pouring down like a river over Little Tree's shriveled trunk. Little Tree began to grow alongside Tall Tree. Sadly, Tall Tree was beginning to show signs of old age. All the leaning and pruning had taken its toll on Tall Tree. Several seasons passed and Little Tree grew to the same height as Tall Tree. Until one day, Tall Tree fell over and collapsed on the forest floor where it died and became mulch for Little Tree's roots

          The picture above shows a street corner memorial where a young man was murdered. Teddy bears are tied to a street light and notes are written in the young man's memory. Can you walk a mile in the dead man's shoes? Maybe not, but how about walking in his mother's shoes? What will it cost you to engage yourself completely in the suffering of another human being? Can you redeem the life of a dead young man by promising his Mom to keep the young man's memory alive? Can you use his story of life and young death to give a message that will change the lives of other young people?

• Redemptive suffering is like walking a mile in someones shoes while carrying them on your back with their heart in your hands. It will cause you some pain.
• Redemptive suffering is taking your own pain and using it as launching point to help others in their pain.
• Redemptive suffering is like a regurgitation.
  • When you take your suffering to God,
    • He blends your suffering with the peace and comfort of His Holy Spirit.
      • This helps you regurgitate a blessing on someone who is suffering.
• Redemptive suffering is God sending Jesus to die for our sins.

DAY TWELVE WORD

John 3:16 Complete Jewish Bible
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed.”
 
Mark 8:34 Amplified Bible
“Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].”
 
Colossians 1:24-25 The Message
“I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.”
 
Matthew 5:1-11 New Living Translation
The Sermon on the Mount
5 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,[b]
    for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
    for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

DAY TWELVE PRAYER

Thank you God for making a way for suffering to become a blessing. Your Word says that joy comes in the morning. No matter how dark the night becomes, your Light always rises in the midst of our mourning. Help me to be more of your Light no matter how much suffering I have to endure to show your Love. Amen.

DAY TWELVE DEEP THOUGHTS

• How can you join somebody in suffering?
• The Bible talks about "redeeming the time." I take this to mean that we should treat each moment as a valuable moment and each life as a valuable life.  
• Redeeming something is buying it back or restoring something that was lost. There is a cost. Partaking in the suffering of another is part of the cost in redemption.
• What is your cost? How will you pray? How will you fast? What will you give?
• Is it time for a second effort to help someone who rejected you the first time?

          No matter how many times you've fasted, fasting is a struggle. The longer the days wear on, king self argues vehemently about being ignored. Whenever you're trying to put God in first place, the devil is pulling at your ankles. No! Wait a minute. It's too easy to blame the devil for my struggles. This is about my self and my relationship with God. Yes, the devil is real and he comes to steal, kill and destroy, but too often we over estimate his influence in our lives. That's a struggle. Jesus met the devil when he was fasting and he told him to get lost. Okay devil, get lost! Now, back to struggling with my self.
          Struggle is a means of strengthening our character. When life presents us with a struggle, our minds tell us to remove or avoid the struggle in any way possible. It's okay to pray, “Abba, Father! You can do all things. Let me not have this cup of suffering." It's also important to add, "But do what you want, not what I want.” Those were the words of Jesus from John 14:36 (ICB). He was about to go through the struggle of the cross. The cross is the Greatest Struggle of All Time. None of us will ever come close to going through a struggle of that magnitude. Jesus set himself beside and did what God wanted. I need to focus on having gratitude that he would endure such suffering for me and you.
          In the picture above, a youth pastor stands with his group on the morning after struggling up a mountain. They had come to the Adirondack Mountains in New York for their first mountain hike and were met with unexpected heavy snow. It was slippery on the way up, but they made it to the top by helping each other. With the help of many other people, the Directors of Youth With A Purpose have lead many mountain hiking expeditions. One statement repeated by almost all of the young people who were first time hikers sticks in our minds, "This was the hardest thing I ever had to do!"  Life is hard sometimes. You'll find strength for the struggle at the cross.         
          Life wants to pull us toward the comfort of carnal directions - all of those things that appease our physical and emotional senses. I think God uses struggle as a means of helping us attain greater brokenness. The more broken we are, the greater is his presence within us. Struggle creates greater compassion for those with greater struggles than our own. Someone's cross is heavier today, can you help them carry it?

DAY ELEVEN WORD

Hebrews 10:32 International Children’s Bible
“Remember those days in the past when you first learned the truth.
You had a hard struggle with many sufferings,
but you continued strong.”
 
1 Timothy 4:10 International Children’s Bible
“For this is why we work and struggle: 
We hope in the living God.
 He is the Savior of all people.
 And in a very special way,
he is the Savior of all who believe in him.”
 
Genesis 3:17 New Living Translation
“And to the man he said,
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
    whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
    All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.”
 
Philippians 1:30 New Living Translation
“We are in this struggle together.
You have seen my struggle in the past,
and you know that I am still in the midst of it.”

DAY ELEVEN PRAYER

Thank you God for my struggles. I know I can't get stronger without the struggles. Help me focus on gratitude for the struggle of Christ and have better eyes to see the struggles of others. Feed my compassion through my fasting. Amen.

DAY ELEVEN DEEP THOUGHTS

• What do you have to be grateful for during the last 11 days?
• Can you see a relationship between struggle and developing strong character?
• What helps you to keep going during a struggle?
• Can you encourage others with what God has given you?
• Gratitude - use it for 10 more days of fasting.
• Look to the end of your fast as another beginning - one where God will feed you new opportunities to feed greater numbers of people the Bread of Life.